Peruvian indigenous organisations denounce Inter American Bank land titling project

Peru: Indigenous organisations consider formal complaint against the Inter American Bank land titling project for violations of indigenous rights and for undermining commitments to reduce deforestation ahead of COP20 in Lima.

On the 24th July 2014 AIDESEP formally denounced Phase 3 of the Inter American Development Bank's support of the Ministry of Agriculture's proposed land titling project (PTRT3) for its failure to prioritise the recognition of over 20 million hectares of pending indigenous land applications and to continue to focus on recognising individual land titles and undermining collective land rights.  AIDESEP asserts that the project represents 'an open call for further invasions and destruction of any commitments to reduce our forest related emissions and making us look ridiculous in the eyes of the world in the upcoming COP20' to be held in Lima in December 2014.

The letter demands immediate rectification of the project to avoid the well documented problems and corruption associated with phase 1 and 2 of the project and announces that AIDESEP will consider issuing a formal complaint using the Bank's Independent Complaints Mechanism for violation of their 'own internal norms and institutional commitments' in addition to their international legal obligations including the failure to conduct prior consultation with indigenous peoples.

Letter attached in spanish only.